Locking device



Aug. 2, 1960 F. w. SCHWAB EVAL 2,947,557

LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1959 Aug. 2, 1960 F wl SCHWAB ETAL 2,947,557

LOCKING DEVICE Unite States atertt()CCA a 2,947,557 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 2,947,557 LOCKING DEVICE Fredric W. Schwab, 82 Lenox Ave., Maywood, and Gordon B. McKay, 75 Snyder Rd., Ramsey, NJ.

Filed Apr. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 808,605 Claims. (Cl. 287-58) This invention relates in general to a locking construction for telescopically adjustable members and particularly to a new and useful telescopic pole, mast or column construction including novel means for locking slidable member portions in various positions of extension.

The present invention is particularly directed to a novel extensible pole construction including at least two telescopically slidable members one having a series of spaced annular protuberances and the other having an annular recess or ledge, and including a resilient ring member which may be positioned on the inner member between one of the protuberances thereon and the ledge formed on the next adjacent outer telescopic member to lock the members in one of a predetermined number of extensible positions.

The resilient ring locking construction is self acting and self aligning. When a load is applied -to the members when they are extended, inward pressure against the locking device causes the members to lock tightly and the load is aligned and uniformly distributed around the periphery of the resilient locking ring from one member to the other.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible column or tent pole which is water-tight both in its collapsed and extended position-s Iand hence is quite Well suited for use in all types of weather.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a locking construction for telescopic members.

A further object of this invention is to provide a telescopic pole construction including a resilient member which may be positioned between cooperating protuberance and rim formations on adjacent telescopic members to lock the members in a predetermined extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a telescopic pole construction which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particulaty in the claims -annexed to `and forming a part of this specication. For a better understanding of the invention, its operation advant-ages and specific objects attained by its use, refer ence should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter lin which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tent pole constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the manner in which the inner telescopic member may be moved upwardly to open it to the desired and extended position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the tent pole of Fig. 1 indicating the intermediate telescopic member in a fully extended downward position and the inner telescopic member in a fully extended upper position;

Fig.` 3 is a broken transverse section of a fully co1- lapsed tent pole constructed in accordance with 'the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of a portion of the upper end of the -tent pole with the inner member shown" extended; H

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detail of a portion of the lower end of the tent pole with the intermediate member shown extended;

Fig. 6 is a reduced horizon-tal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section of another embodiment of inner telescopic member top construction; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section of another embodiment of bot-tom construction for the intermediate telescopic member.

Referring to the drawings in particular the invention as embodied therein includes an outer elongated telescopic pole member generally designated 10, an inner telescopic pole member generally designated 12, and an intermediate telescopic pole member generally designated 14. Each of the pole members 10, 12 and 14 are cylindrical and are of diameters suicient to permit relative sliding motion therebetween.

Each of the top and bottom ends of the ou-ter telescopic pole members 1()` is covered by a resilient cap member 16 and 18, respectively. An inner sleeve 20 is positioned within the outer telescopic member 10 in alignment with the intermediate telescopic pole member 14. The sleeve 20 is welded as at 22 4along its top edge to the outer telescopic pole member 10 and an inner sleeve 23 is positioned in and Welded to the sleeve 2t). The sleeve 23 is provided with a plurality of keyways 24 extending along the length thereof at spaced locations: around its inner periphery (Figs. 4 and 6). The upper end of the sleeve 20 is bent outwardly to form an an nular flange 26 to receive a resilient member 28. In the present instance the resilient member 28 is a so-called O-ring but it may be any similar resilient member made of plastic, metal or similar materials. The mem ber 28 is carried within a flanged recess of a top member generally designated 29 which is affixed to the top of the inner telescopic pole member 12.

In accordance with the invention the inner member 12 is provided with a plurality of spaced annular lips or protuberances y3i) which are spaced axially along its length.. When the inner member 12 is extended as indicated in Fig. l it is pulled upwardly from the outer member 10 and a predetermined one of 'the protuberances 39 is: aligned slightly above the flanged recess 26. When the Oring is located within the recess of the cover member 29, it is of a greater external diameter than the inner member 12 but is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve 20 so that it does not interfere with the sliding of the inner member 12 Within the sleeve. The resilient member 28 is then pushed downwardly along the inner telescopic pole member 12 and over the protuberances 30 until it is aligned between the ange 26 and a chosen protuberance 30 as indicated in Fig. 4. ln this position the inner telescopic pole member 12 is locked in an extended position against inward movement in relation to the outer telescopic pole member lil. When the O-ring 28 lis moved to the position indicated in Fig. 4, it is positioned on the inner member 12 so that i-ts external diameter becomes greater than the internal diameter of the sleeve 20 and hence it rests on the ledge 26 and is prevented from moving upwardly by the protuberance 30.

The inner telescopic pole member 12 is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting bottom tips 32 which ride within the keyway 24 when the inner telescopic pole member 12 is retracted to a substantially fully extended position. The keyway 24 extends from a location spaced from the top of the inner sleeve 23 to the bottom thereof. When the inner telescopic pole member 12 is in its last portion of its fully extended position, the key 32 rides in :on the. inside wall of the. intermediate member 14 .latter is retracted..

In accordance with the invention, .the intermediate telescopic pole member 14 is provided with. at least one annular protuberance 34 which is located at a spaced distance. from the top edge. thereof and which cooperates with a ledge portion 36. (Figs. 3 and 5 formed onf the outer telescopic pole member 10. Additional proturberances such as 3.4 may bev advantageously located along the: height of the intermediate telescopic member 14. The intermediate telescopic pole member 14 is provided with a bottom. cap 38 having a recessed. ange. portion which .carries an. O-ring 40- of dimensions similar to O-ring 2S. lWhen the intermediate member 14 is fully extended downwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5,. the O-ring is slippedupwardly onthe member until it ispositioned over the protuberance134 and on the ledge 36 to lock the .intermediate and outertelescopic pole members 14 and in their extended position.

In. Fig. 7 there isV illustrated an alternate top construction 42 for. the innerrtelescopic pole member 12. In this construction, an annular recess is formed to` receive an O-ring 44.

In Fig. 8- there is illustrated an alternate embodiment' of bottom 46 for the intermediate member 14. In this embodiment, a recess isformed to receive an O-ring 48.

The tent pole isnormally carried and shipped with both of the caps' 16 and t8 in place andi with: the intermediate and inner telescopic pole members 12- and 14 fully retracted within the outer telescopic pole member 10. The pole may be'extended a slight amount by merely ,ance 30 and theledge 26, as indicated inFig. 4, the pole is compressed somewhat and the outer telescopic pole member 10 and the inner telcopic pole member 12 will v be locked in position.

The inner telescopic pole member 12 may be extended until the last protuberance 30Y is aligned above thel ledge portion 26. Infthisposition the key 3l2 will ride in the keyway 24` and no relatives turning between the outer telescopic pole member land the inner telescopic pole member 12y will be possible. The portion of the. annular plate 23 at the'upper end ofv tliekeyway 24prevents the inner telescopic pole member 1-2 fromcoming.- out of the outer pole member 10.

The pole mayv be extended oneV long increment by retracting the intermediate"telescopic pole-memberY doWnwardly until the protuberance- 34- is aligned below the ledge 36 ofthe outer telescopic pole member 10. The O-ring 40 carried on the'intermediatetelescopic pole member 14 is then pushed: upwardly/thereon until itis positioned in the ledge 36 on-the other side of the protuberance 34. A sufficient length ofpoleis provided'between the protuberance 34 and the top of :the intermediate pole member 14 to provide anvadequate bearing supportl between the intermediate pole member 14 and the outer pole member 10 in the fully extended position ofthe intermediate member..

It should be appreciated that while the locking construction. is illustrated in connection with aY tentpole member, it is equally applicable to all types of extensible members. Whenr the members are fully extended` and locked in position and also when the device fully collapsed and the: covers are. inplace, it is fully water-tight. The commotion is suchthat.. thepole will oat whenit member whereby toY lock said: members against relative is closed and covered. Because the extensible members are provided with a series ofy protuberances, it can be assembled in darkness and the parts are easy .to manipulate even by a person wearing heavy gloves. This construction makes the device readily usable in severe arctic conditions.

While aspeciiic embodiment of the invention has been shown vand described inV detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1f. A telescopic pole comprising an outer, hollow cylindrical member, a cylindrical sleeve connected to said 'outer member and positioned therein said' sleeve having a ledge formed onone end adjacent the end of said outer member, an intermediatel sleeve member positioned in said outer member, an intermediate sleeve member positioned in said outer member in alignment with said sleeve, an1 inner' member positionedV within said outer member and said sleeve, eachv of said outer, inner and intermediate members being axially relatively' movable, said inner member having at least one annular protuberance, a resilient ring carried by said inner member, said inner member beingl retractable to position said protuberance above'saidsleeve'ledge, said resilient member being movable down alongl the walls of saidV inner memberk to position the latter between the ledge and said` protnberancewhereby to'lock said inner member' inan extended position;

2'. A telescopic` pole according to claim' I wherein said Vintermediate member is provided with an annular protuberance and said outer member is provided with a 'ledge portion ada'centf its bottomA edge', saidintermediate member carrying a resilient ring, said ring being'slida-ble along said intermediate member to position the latter VbetweenV said protnberance and, said ledge whereby to supporti said intermediate member from said outer'member in an` extended position. v

3. A telescopic pole according to claim 2 including're- 'sili'ent caps foreach ofr the ends of said' intermediate member. Y

4. At telescopic pole yaccording toclairnl whereinl said 5. A telescopic pole comprising an outer elongated hollow member havinga ledge formed therein, an inner 'member'position'ed within said outer member and being 'relatively movable with respect thereto, a protub'erance `formed on said inner member, a resilient ringmember carried by said inner .member and slidable therealong, said ring member adapted toA be positioned between' the ledgeof said outermember and said protuberance when the inner member isl extended outwardly from said inner ondvl ledgeformed at the bottomv end thereof, said` membersfbeing'relatively shiftable to present said second pro- "t'uberance' outwardly of. said:V second ledge, said resilient member being` shiftabfe to a' position between saidledge and said protuberance.

References Citedin the'le of this patent UN'lTED STATES PATENTS 543,371 Honze- .Aug. 6; 1895 1,502,673. Ho1e July 29, 1924 1,542,553 -I-Iornbeck June 16,1925

` FOREIGN PATENTS 865,885 Germany ;.-...Feb.5',-1.953 

